New faces will be taking familiar places after the November 5 general elections. New mayors will take over in Monticello and Blanding, and city councils will change as a result of the elections.

In Monticello, 59 percent of the active voters participated in the election, totaling 564 voters.

In contrast, the voter turnout in Blanding was 29 percent of active voters, or 426 voters.

The difference in turnout is widely attributed to the fact that Monticello voters participated via mailed ballots while Blanding voters had a more traditional election with absentee ballots by request and voting at the polling place on election day.

Monticello officials said that they are pleased with the first general election to take place by mailed ballots. They claim that voter participation grew without an increase in cost.

Ballots were mailed to registered voters in Monticello several weeks before the election. There were few reports of problems. The San Juan Record is interested in contacting registered voters who did not receive a ballot.

San Juan County officials are hopeful to move to mailed ballots for all precincts in the county in future elections.

In Monticello, Tim Young was elected to a four-year terms as Mayor. Young received 452 votes or 80 percent, compared to 104 votes, or 18 percent, for challenger Eric George.

Young will replace Doug Allen, who served for two terms as Mayor of Monticello, in addition to two terms on the Monticello City Council before that.

Young, who owns San Juan Pharmacy in Monticello, is currently a member of the Monticello City Council. It appears as if one of the first orders of business for the new council in January will be appointing a replacement for Young.

New members of the Monticello City Council are Steve Duke and George Rice. Duke led all candidates, receiving 407 votes or 72 percent, while Rice was close behind with 398 votes or 71 percent.

Monte Wells was third place with 169 votes, or 30 percent and Matt Keyes received 133 votes, or 24 percent.

A total of seven candidates ran for the two open positions on the city council. The candidates were pared to four in an August primary election.

Duke and Rice will replace Councilmen Brad Randall and Craig Leavitt. The two incumbent councilmen did not seek another term on the City Council.

In Blanding, Calvin Balch was elected to a four-year term as Mayor with 378 votes. Balch, who served as mayor several years ago, returns for another term. He was unopposed in the race for Mayor after the current mayor, Toni Turk, withdrew his candidacy after the filing period closed.

Robert Ogle and Taylor Harrison were elected to the Blanding City Council. Ogle, who was appointed to the council in 2012, earned his first electorate victory with 263 votes, or 62 percent of the vote.

Harrison was elected on his first try at public office with 248 votes, or 58 percent of the vote.

Other candidates for the race include incumbent Charlie Taylor, who received 163 votes or 38 percent; and Keele Johnson, who received 126 votes, or 30 percent.

The winning candidates will be sworn in in January and begin four year terms.

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